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who can I talk to about my mental health?

Free support is there any time, day or night: call Samaritans on 116 123 or text 50808. Under 18, Childline is free on 1800 66 66 66. Jigsaw gives free therapy and online chat to 12 to 25 year olds, with no referral. If someone’s life is at risk, call 112 or 999.

Call Samaritans: 116 123Free, any time, from any phone.Text 50808Text About It: free, anonymous, any time.

Under 18? Childline, free: 1800 66 66 66

Life at risk? Call 112 or 999

Review pending No GP has reviewed this answer yet. It points you to a place to go; it is not medical advice. Who answers

01 Talk now, free, any time

  • Samaritans, 116 123. Open 24 hours. Free from landlines and mobiles, including pay-as-you-go with no credit. Or email jo@samaritans.ie.
  • Text About It, 50808. A free, anonymous text service, 24/7, with trained volunteers.
  • Childline, 1800 66 66 66. A 24-hour listening service for young people up to 18. You can also text 50101 or use live chat on childline.ie.
  • Pieta, 1800 247 247. Free support, any time, for people who self-harm or are thinking about suicide, and for people bereaved by suicide.

You can call these helplines for advice if you’re worried about someone else, too.

Sources: Samaritans Ireland: contact us; Text About It; HSE: Mental health organisations for children and young people; HSE: Get urgent help for a mental health crisis. Checked 29 October 2026.

02 Free therapy for 12 to 25: Jigsaw

Jigsaw is a youth mental health charity giving free, confidential therapy to young people aged 12 to 25, in person in some areas and online. Its live chat with a trained therapist is free, on weekday afternoons, and you don’t need a referral. Jigsaw says it does not provide immediate crisis support: for that, use the numbers above.

Jigsaw live chat and services

Sources: Jigsaw: Services in your area; Jigsaw: Live chat. Checked 29 October 2026.

03 HSE information line

For information on mental health services, the HSE’s information line is free, any time, on 1800 111 888. The HSE also lists organisations for children and young people; most need no GP referral.

Organisations for young people (HSE)

Source: HSE: Mental health organisations for children and young people. Checked 29 October 2026.

04 A GP

The HSE says a GP can offer support for anyone in crisis, and suggests asking someone to come with you if you can. When your GP is closed, the GP out-of-hours service can help.

Find a GP (HSE) → Find your out-of-hours GP on nightdoc.ie →

Source: HSE: Get urgent help for a mental health crisis. Checked 29 October 2026.

If someone is in danger

The HSE says to phone 112 or 999, or go to your nearest emergency department, if you or someone you know is about to harm themselves or someone else.

Source: HSE: Get urgent help for a mental health crisis. Checked 29 October 2026.